Menopause at 44- is HRT a must

Hi I can't say Hrt helps with fatigue in my case I still have restless nights. It may be worth getting your blood checked as I found I had low iron stores contributing to my tiredness which I found odd as I no longer bleed.

I have been happily using HRT for 26 years now.  Always the oestradiol type.  However, I also have haemochromatosis, which causes the similar symptoms as menopause.  It is like a double whammy so I am so grateful that I have HRT.

Haemochromatosis does cause extreme fatigue too and as you are no longer menstruating it is worthwhile asking your gp for an Iron Studies test.  If you have the HH genes, the symptoms come on with menopause but are masked by menopause because they are the same.

If you are still afraid of HRT, read the actual studies that were done on HRT, e.g. WHI.  You will find that the studies were flawed.  They gave Premarin to women who were well past menopause and had to have no symptoms of menopause to participate in the study.  Premarin has already been proven to be the most problematic and to give them to women well past their need for it is criminal.  The study was stopped as it was causing bad health problems for the women.  Leading gynecologists condemned it, and said it set back the health of women for decades.  YET, it is this study that is referred to on information sheets of ALL HRT medications!

 

I'm 50 and have had symptoms on and off for five years. My main problem was hot flushes. They became so bad that I gave in and started HRT. Which has really helped. I'm sleeping well and the hot flushes have stopped completely. I am on Elleste Duet 1mg. The only down side for me is my monthly bleed ( which you have to have if you still have a womb) is heavy and painful. I'm not a pill taker at all and very reluctantly started HRT. I've been on it 4 months. This month ( since last Wednesday so week today I have cut my tiny pill in half. I wondered if I'm having too much hormones hence the heavy painful bleed. I've been waiting for the hot flushes !! So far so good. So in a nutshell my advice would be from a very reluctant HRT'er give it a try. Aches and pains are better but haven't gone away completely like the hot flushes. Good Luck.

Hello. I've taken HRT since 1991 following a hysterectomy and oophorectomy apart from a break of about 6 months last year. My menopausal symptoms came on with a vengeance, I was tired and the osteoarthritis in my joints was extremely painful. My GP started to prescribe it again just before Christmas and within a week I felt so much better. I sleep well and the pain in my joints is much improved. I no longer have hot flushes. If you're in the UK the NICE guidelines are very positive about HRT and GP's are advised to prescribe it for any woman who has symptoms of menopause and would benefit from it. A lot of the research mainly from America we now know is flawed as many of us in gynaecology thought. My energy levels have increased so much I don't think I could manage without it.

Hello I hope this helps. I too was very nervous about starting HRT because of the side effects especially since I am a mammographer and have learned that estrogen is correlated with Breast CA .  I think everything in moderation is a good rule of thumb.  Since I have started HRT in October 2015 I feel immensely better.  For me it has been a life changer.  No more fatigue depression and sleepless nights and no more hot flashes! I have cardiac history in my family so I am hoping the estrogen will continue to protect my heart and promote density in my bones since I am now osteoporotic due to menopause!  There is nothing pretty about menopause for me.  Everyone is different but at this age quality of life is most important! Good luck!

Hi - I am 45 and my periods have stopped for now and I have been having lots of changes and strange symptoms, including the ageing skin and fatigue   I also found thinking about HRT a difficult decision and have not ruled it out, but don't take it right now.

Yes, it can protect bones and heart but there are all sorts of factors that can help or hinder those issues if you choose not to take HRT.  Have you stopped having periods for over a year?  If you have I think it would be good to talk to your GP about HRT - I was advised that under 45 with low estrogen levels, it is a good idea to take HRT, under 40 and it is very much recommended.  It really is down to personal factors though.

We are both at an age where it's a question mark in some ways, so take a look at risk factors for taking HRT and for not. Your doctor should be able to do a risk assessment with you. Increases in calcium and vitamin D will help your bones, weight bearing excercise too.  A healthy diet, excercise etc will all help with risk factor for heart disease, loss of hormones is only one of them.

The issue of fatigue is difficult, I still have it and would really like to do something about that, but again, I'm not sure HRT is the fix for me. I have quite a stressfull life and I think losing hormones increases stress hormones and that is causing it - I feel more anxious than I used too. So I am working on that and hoping it helps. Good luck x

Hi 

im in the same boat forty four going through menopause for the last 2-3 years haven't taken hrt which was recommended by gp.  Afraid of all the side effects, also when you come off hrt you still get hot flushes😡.  That's all I'm really suffering with

my husband probably disagree mood swings.  Have meet other women who have gone through it with out taking anything it's so confussing I wish it was a little more out there what's right and wrong everyone is different not every one needs calcium and fit D. Which is the first thing recommended.   

We need more education on this.  What's available naturally and if that doesn't work take xyz

have appointment with gp shes strongly recommending hrt because of my age.  I'm going to through caution to the wind and take hrt and see what happens ??